Deposition of iron.



s. 0. GOWPER-GOLES. DEPOSITION OF IRON.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1, 1914.

LJLQ Q v Patented Feb.9,1915.

WIT/VES'SE INA/ENTO/E.

SHERARJD OSBORN COWPER-COLES, OF WESTMINSTER, LONDON, ENGLAND.

DEPOSITION OF IRON.

menace.

- iron and has for its object an improvedprocess which can findapplication either as a method of refining or for the production of avery pure iron in the form of sheets 'orarticles such as tubes, ingotsand wire direct from crude or scrap metal or the ore.

As is well known one of the chief dificulties which'are met with in thecommercial electro-deposition of iron is the exfoliation and brittlenessfound in the deposit and which are due to the occlusion of hydrogen. Itis found that the amount. of hydrogen generated is largely dependent onthe acidity of the solution, so that it becomes necessary to keep thisacidity as low as possible.

In the specification of my 'prior British Patent No. 10655 of 1909, llproposed the use in conjunction with a main iron depositing cell, of asmall auxiliary cell having anodes of iron or steel and a revolvingmetal or carbon cathode, the density of the current employed beingsufiiciently high to insure that the iron is deposited in a looseflocculent, easily removable, form in the auxiliary cell, such ironbeing added to and circulated with the electrolyte used for the maincell.

Now according to the present invention add to the electrolyte ironsponge which I maintain in suspension in and distributed throughout theelectrolyte, for example, by vigorous stirring or agitation such ironsponge advantageously being prepared by roasting a sulfid or other ironore, recovering the sulfur, and reducing in a reducing atmosphere.

Practice has demonstrated that it is not suflicient to employ spongyiron anodes or iron sponge suspended in the electrolyte in the ironoxid,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 9, T915.

Application filed August 1, 1914. Serial No. 854 564.

frames or cages, as the said iron sponge must be freely distributed andmaintained distributed throughout the electrolyte by vigorous stirringor agitation which may be effectively accomplished when using a rotatingcathode by a propeller attached to the bottom of the latter.

The electrolyte may be obtained from any Y suitable solvent of ironwhich forms a good electrolyte, such for example, as sulfuric orhydrochloric acid. Good results have been obtained by using anelectrolyte consisting of a solution of ferrous sulfate which issupersaturated in the cold, one liter containing 1500 grams of ferroussulfate. This solution is maintained. at a temperature a few degreesbelow the boiling point, at

Y which temperature it is saturated and I find that by using anelectrolyte of a high density in combination with the iron sponge I ob--viate the defects of exfoliation and brittleness of deposit abovealluded to, and I am also enabled to employ a high current density say40 amperes per square foot and to obtain a smooth deposit. Theelectrolyzing cell is advantageously provided with rotating cathodes onwhich the iron is deposited in the form of tubes or sheets.

In the accompanying diagrammatic drawing, which represents a verticalsection of a cell for depositing iron according to the invention, a isthe containing vessel and b a pair of soluble or insoluble-anodes," andc the rotating cathode, all of which are immersed in the electrolytecontained within the vessel a.

d is the propeller'at the lower end of the cathode for stirring oragitating the electrolyte as the said cathode is rotated.

Claim:

The process for electrodeposition of iron,- which consists in addingiron sponge to the electrolyte and maintaimng said iron sponge insuspension and distributing it throughout the electrolyte by agitationof the active electrolyte bath, whereby the acid which is formed, isneutralized as quickly as possible.

' SHEBARD OSBORN GOWPEE-COLES.

Witnesses:

JOHN E. BOUSFIELD, C. G. REDFERN.

